RE: SOTW: Fiat X1/9

[philcray]

Had one for a couple of years in the mid 80's, gold but similar to the red one in the photo in that my hub caps also fell off! Reg MFR777X, smelt strongly of Opium perfume from the previous owner - that was a popular aroma in the 80's! Happy days....

Only problem (apart from rust) was once when the starter motor suddenly decided not to turn over but ran fine once started by pushing. I eventually diagnosed that there was an earthing problem - seemed unlikely as bolted tightly but took off the earthing strap, cleaned and car started first time! Had i gone to a garage i am sure they would have struggled to diagnose - not sure what Fiat are like to deal with now but they were uber Sh*te in those days....

[stephen300o]

griffter said:

and that fact that it had Ferrari 308 GT4 door handles and rear lights (ahem).

Not forgetting the Countach boot/engine cover release handles

[H22K]

"That’s a shame really because it was the name given to one of the prettiest cars ever made. "

..I'm sorry what? Obviously this is purely personal opinion, but I would call an old Alfa Spyder "pretty", or even an MGRV8 "pretty" but this...no no no. To many angles that seem to juxtapose..erm..everything.

[horton]

I have always loved the looks of the X19 - but now I am getting old I just think about how much I would not like to crash one - surely everyone who crashes one dies?

[Tin Hat]

Good shed

[the fury]

H22K said:

MGRV8 "pretty"

I know a good optician...

[khushy]

my first car in 1984 was a cursed X19 - what a pile of junk - EVERYTHING that could go wrong - went wrong - the SHONEY car dealer I bought it from was a CROOK - even the brake bleed nipples had been replaced with normal bolts!!!!

Here is a list . . .

brake calipers stopped working
alternator
wheel bearings
bodywork
headlamp motors
electrics all over
suspension struts
cam belt snapped
new vales guides etc
spline for the distributor broke - which ended it all
brake disks - from the Haynes Manual - "remove brake disk securing nut then remove the disk" LOL - 4 hours later after using all manner of lump hammers in the end we had to drill the bloody things off!!!

LOL - those were the days

khushy

BUT - I learned a hell of a lot about car maintanence LOL

[slowDC5]

Awesome shed. I had a Poo brown 82 with mag rims as my first car and it was a hoot even though nobody knew what it was.

Fun to drive and generally pretty frugal on gas but when it came to working on it....

Been looking to buy another one as a weekend car now but they never were that popular on this side of the pond.

[Johnpidge]

Ah the X/19 - ex wife had one and fun in a rear engine/ RWD /cr*p yourself on roundabouts sort of way but seriously flawed design and disolves infront of you. As many said MR2 light years better and 2nd version quite a weapon - can't imagine how well the Import only Turbo MR2 went.

[tonym911]

horton said:

I have always loved the looks of the X19 - but now I am getting old I just think about how much I would not like to crash one - surely everyone who crashes one dies?

No, because normally you're having the accident on your own, just spinning merrily.

[stephen300o]

Apart from the inevitable rust the only trouble I had was with the carburettor, I had a couple of breakdowns, but when I cleaned the carb the grit never made an appearance(some sort of ninja grit I believe) two cans of carburettor cleaner and an air line latter and all was fine.

[Oli S]

Just out of interest how difficult would it be to make a late one look like an early one? Can you just pull the plastic off?

[TomJS]

stephen300o said:

Fantastic car, second best car I've owned, despite the trouble.
Early ones are best,

That looks sensational!

[R39S1]

Lovely little car to drive. I had F reg one in metallic Blue. it had been owned by an old guy and although it was 6 years old when I got it, it was spotless. Took it around France, loved it to bits. Downside it left me stranded twice. Once the heater hose went and it emptied all the coolant into the cabin. Oh yeah and trying to change the fan belt needed three arms and the sacrifice of lots of knuckle skin to the italian motoring gods. Also the only car i have ever made a profit out of!!Sold it after a year for £500 more than I paid.

[Twincam16]

H22K said:

"That’s a shame really because it was the name given to one of the prettiest cars ever made. "

..I'm sorry what? Obviously this is purely personal opinion, but I would call an old Alfa Spyder "pretty", or even an MGRV8 "pretty" but this...no no no. To many angles that seem to juxtapose..erm..everything.

I find sometimes that sharp, simple lines and angles can be as pretty as curves. '70s Lamborghinis and the Lancia Stratos are similar. It was a time when Italy was celebrating the success of its chemical industry and embracing all that was man-made, so its car industry went for shapes and colours that couldn't possibly have come from nature. Luigi Colani was another exponant of this style.

Similarly, ill-judged curves can look gloopy and fat.

[minimoog]

TomJS said:

That looks sensational!

Beat me to it!

[Mastiff]

I actually lost one of these once...

[Tuna]

horton said:

I have always loved the looks of the X19 - but now I am getting old I just think about how much I would not like to crash one - surely everyone who crashes one dies?

I drove mine off a road at 70 mph into a ditch in the pitch black.. It stopped in a straight line, and once we'd unstuck it from the bank it was beached on, it drove home fine. Had it checked over and apart from some grass and loss of the front numberplate, the car was undamaged. Went back in daylight and found out I'd stopped in the only gap in the 6 foot high hedge for about three miles.

Cracking cars - the late ones were assembled by Bertone after Fiat lost the will, and were surprisingly reliable. Well equipped too for the time. Get electronic ignition fitted and keep the battery topped up (solar charger) and it'll start first time every time. Gearboxes were a weak point though - mine went through three in 70K miles, though the second two were reconditioned rather than new.

A real joy to drive, and immensely practical. Warm in the winter, open top in the summer, loads of luggage space and loads of fun. Mine stopped me buying an Elise when they first came out as the Lotus didn't offer that much more for a brand new car.

[uriel]

My first 2 cars were black VSes. First one was a complete shed, but the second was solid, driven every day, lived outside and never gave me any trouble at all until someone rear-ended it.

I'd have replaced it with another, but I'm 6'6" and was tired of having to drive hunched over in my stocking feet.

[LuS1fer]

The X1/9 was the successor to the Fiat 850 Coupe/Spider which, like the X1/9 was pretty and underpowered but rear-engined so the X1/9 was a logical development:

The X1/9 rear light shape can be seen in this rear shot:

There was also a Bertone Coupe which was a hardtop version of the 850 Spider. The X1/9 DNA is perhaps obvious although the X1/9 would have been a convertible but for the threatened rollover US requirements which dictated a hoop.

Edited by LuS1fer on Friday 16th January 14:28